To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what use (a) his Department and (b) service providers under contract to his Department make of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement. (247336)

Information on the use of 0844 and 0845 numbers by service providers to the department can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The DCSF does not participate in revenue share schemes associated with non-geographic telephone numbers and therefore derives no revenue from the use of these numbers. The Department does use non-geographic telephone numbers such as 0870 and 0845 for its public inquiry line and other entry points. However, the Department has never received any income from the use of these numbers and does not offer refunds to callers. It’s important to note that, in accordance with Central Office of Information (COI) advice, in most cases the Department offers alternative non-telephone methods of contact such as email and letter.

The Department is in discussion with the COI to investigate, along with alternatives, the use of 03 numbers as replacements.

The Department and its service providers use the following 0845 numbers. We do not have any 0844 numbers. The total quantity of telephone numbers can change as services are introduced or closed.